Making New Contacts:
Networking Strategically
Brianna Blaser
May 8, 2009
Cambridge Research Institute
Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
AAAS
 International nonprofit organization dedicated to
advancing science, engineering, and innovation
throughout the world
 Membership-based organization
 Publisher of Science
 Source for broad range of career advice and
resources through ScienceCareers.org
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
ScienceCareers.org
• Job listings
• Career advice articles
• Graduate program
information
• Meetings and event
information
• GrantsNet
• Career Forum
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Science Careers/AAAS Outreach Program
 Info for Ph.D., postdocs, and beyond on…
 Career options
 Professional development skills
 Job search
 In a variety of settings…
 Trade shows and conferences
 Universities and colleges
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Who’s in YOUR network?
How do you increase the size of your
network?
Why do you care about your network?
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Introduction
 Perceptions of networking
 Negative connotations
 People avoid networking
 Reality
 Networking can be fun
 Networking impacts your career
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Introduction (cont’d)
 Define networking
 Conferences
 Elevator pitches and handshakes
 Meeting people and exchanging business cards
 Following up with contacts
 Professional societies
 Informational interviews
 Social networking sites
 Career fairs
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Networking as a Broad Term
 Different contexts
 Different strategies
 Different reasons
 Networking isn’t just about your
professional contacts
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
“Connecting
with others really just
involves having a predetermined
plan and carrying it out, whether you
want to be a ninth-grade history
teacher or start your own business.”
- Keith Ferrazzi, Never Eat Alone
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Prepare to Network
 Reflect on how you can benefit from networking
 Research events and people
 Brainstorm questions
 Set goals
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Networking and Manners
 People like to help
 Don’t directly ask for a job, admission to graduate
school, etc.
 Be mindful of people’s time
 Be friendly and collegial
 Observe how other people interact
 Don’t take things personally
 “What’s in it for me?”
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Networking at Conferences
 Plenty of networking opportunities
● Breaks
● Receptions
● Poster sessions
● Evenings
● Other activities
 Think of reasons to talk to people
 Ask questions
 Name badges
 If you feel shy, use the buddy system
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 Prepare your opening line
Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Meeting People
 Entering and exiting conversations
 Always have a free hand at receptions
 Practice:
 Your handshake
 Meeting people
 Speaking
 Who else should I talk to?
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Elevator Pitches
 Be prepared to introduce yourself to people
 What to include
 Having different versions
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Business Cards
 Make sure you have some
 Carry them with you
 Don’t be shy about passing them out
 Make sure your cards are accessible
 Resumes
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Following Up With Contacts
 Make notes about new contacts
 Follow up with new contacts soon after you’ve met
 Keep up with people in your network
 “Will you look at my resume? Where can I build
skills?”
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Professional Societies
 As a place for networking
 Annual meetings
 Local chapters, regional meetings
 Membership directories
 Volunteer opportunities
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Informational Interviews
 Learn about career options and expand your
network
 Ask for a few minutes of the person’s time
 Prepare ahead of time
 Briefly introducing yourself and explain your interest
 Ask open-ended questions
 Mind your manners
 Ask for referrals
 Afterwards, write a thank you note
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Informational Interview Questions
 What attracted you to this field?
 What do you like most or least about this position or field?
 Describe a typical day or week.
 What steps did you take to break into this field?
 What skills and attributes are most helpful in your job?
 To what professional associations do you belong?
 What advice would you give somebody interested in
pursuing your line of work?
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Social Networking Websites
 Various websites – LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace,
science specific sites, also online forums
 A way to control your online presence
 Help with various aspects of networking
 Meet people
 Stay connected
 Organize contacts
 AAAS’ and Science Careers Facebook pages,
Science Careers Forum
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 Blogging
Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
But…
 Be mindful about what you post and your privacy
settings
 Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want an employer
to read
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Career Fairs
 As a form of networking
 Do your research
 Make a plan
 Prepare your elevator pitch and questions
 Bring resumes/business cards
 Dress appropriately
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
More about Career Fairs
 Practice with lower priority employers
 Be mindful of recruiters time
 Handshakes and eye contact
 Follow up!
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
So… We’ve talked about:
 Places to build our professional networks
 Skills to use
 Techniques to use
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Making New Contacts: Networking and Career Fairs
Remember…
 Networking doesn’t have to be hard or
scary
 Practice makes it easier
 It’s okay to make mistakes
 Over time your network with grow and
you’ll become better connected … and find
a job!
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